Disney in a Minute: Who is Orange Bird?

We’re here with a series of quick posts, “Disney in a Minute,” bite-sized nuggets of information that can better help you understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World, you’re almost certain to encounter images of bulbous orange bird emblazoned on park signage and merchandise items. Unlike most other character images found in the parks, this orange bird (ostensibly a canary), named Orange Bird, started not purely for entertainment but rather as an advertising mascot.

Orange Bird was created in the late 1960s and had its heyday in the early 1970s as a mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission, which sponsored the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction and the Magic Kingdom’s Sunshine Tree Terrace refreshment stand. He made appearances on TV, radio, and print advertising Florida oranges, and was even available as a character greeting guests in the Magic Kingdom in the 1970s. Those who traveled to Florida in the 1970s and 1980s may remember seeing Orange Bird paraphernalia at the Florida Welcome Center when stopping by for free orange juice. The Orange Bird even had his own album of songs written by the famous Sherman Brothers and sung by Anita Bryan!

At the Sunshine Tree Terrace specifically, guests could purchase Orange Bird merchandise and Citrus Swirls. This sweet combo of vanilla soft serve and orange juice slush is still enjoyed by guests today.

After a few decades of lesser use in the parks, an Orange Bird presence returned in the mid 2000s as a presence on merchandise items beginning, of all places, at Tokyo Disneyland. In 2012 the Orange Bird image was prominently placed on the Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and Orange Bird merchandise again returned to the Florida Disney parks.

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